UNRWA warns of impending winter disaster in Gaza as aid remains blocked by Israel

November 15, 2025 - 17:52

Gaza faces a worsening crisis as winter approaches, with vital shelter and supplies blocked by Israel from entering the enclave, Anadolu reported Saturday, citing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

In a statement on X, UNRWA said shelter and winter materials meant for displaced families “are sitting in UNRWA warehouses in Jordan and Egypt, blocked from entry.”

“As winter approaches in Gaza, people are increasingly in need of shelter and warmth,” the agency said, calling for the immediate restoration of humanitarian access.

On Thursday, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan quoted a senior government official as saying that “Israel does not intend to allow UNRWA to return to work in Gaza despite the International Court’s decision” requiring it to do so.

The comment came a day after the International Court of Justice said Palestinians in Gaza “have not received sufficient supplies” of humanitarian aid and ruled that Israel must allow and facilitate the delivery of assistance and stop using starvation as a method of warfare.

The opinion was issued as a nonbinding legal advisory by the court, outlining Israel’s obligations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, following a request from the UN General Assembly in December 2024.

Israel's restriction on the entry of goods into Gaza continues despite the latest ceasefire deal with Hamas reached earlier this month.

Since October 2023, the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza has killed more than 69,000 people.

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